clark



(No Model;) 5 SheetsSheet 1.

CLARK.

' $TORE SERVICE SYSTEM. No. 293.949. Patented Feb; 19, 1884.

' ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Pholoh hograp flr. Waslliflgion, D.C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

CLARK. V STORE SERVICE SYSTEM. 7 N0. 293,9491- Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

WITNESS INVBNTOR n, PETERSKPMRn-Liihogl upher. Wallinglom n. c.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3. i

'M.OLARK.

.' STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

(No Model.)

N0. 293,949; Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

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M ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Phnla-Uthugnphur. wnhin um n.c.

5 SheetsShee 4.

M. CLARK.

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

' Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR SATTOBN WITNESSES (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. 1 M. CLARK.

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

No. 293,949. Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

N, Pains Pholo-Lxlhognphnr. Washinglun. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE. 7

MILTON CLARK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR To THE CONTI- .NENTALCASH OAR OOMPANYOF BALTIMORE, or SAME PLACE.

STORE-SERVICE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,949, dated February19, i884.

' Application filed January 23,1884. (No model.)

To. aZZ whom it may concern.

.Beitknown that I, MILTON CLARK, of Balcentral station or cashiers desktrack-wires radiate in various directions to the several salesmenscounters, the carriers depending from overhead wheel supports or carsadapted to travel by gravity to and. from the central station, accordingas the outer end of the track-wire is raised above or lowered beneath ahorizontal plane. The velocity of movement of the car in each case isnecessarily dependent upon the angle of inclination of the track to thisplane. The outer stations or salemens counters being, however, atvarying distances from the cashiers desk, it is evident that to produceuniformity of speed throughout the entire system, insuring likeinclination for each track and equal velocity of movement for all thecars, it is needful that means should be provided, in connection witheach track, for bringing the several wires with certainty into theproper plane of inclination. These means should, moreover, be as far aspossible under the immediate supervision and control of the cashier, andshould not be left to the carelessness or inefficiency of the generalforce of salesmen. It is desirable, therefore, that the inner or fixedends of the system at the central station should be readily adjustablein different horizontal planes, according to and corresponding with thedistances of the outer or movable ends from such central station, sothat in. the event of a desired shifting of the outer end of any one ofthe wires from a distant salesmans counter to one nearer the cashiersdesk, or vice versa, the proper grade or inclination may be at onceestablished by proper vertical adjust- 2, represents a'detail of thesame.

ment of the fixed end. My present invention is adapted to secure thesedesirable results, and by it I am also enabled to stretch or tightensagging wires with ease and celerity. At the salesmens stations I alsoprovide appropriate safeguards against reckless operation of thegravity-switch, whereby injurious jars and strains beyond the normalwear and tear upon its constituent parts are avoided and the occasionfor repairs materially lessened,

Referring more particularlyto the accompanying drawings, in which likeletters indicate like parts, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents insideelevation a single wire of my system extending from the cashiers desk toone of the salesmens counters. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, represents in sideelevation an enlarged view of a salesmans station, showing more clearlythe,

details of the gravity-switch. Fig. 7, Sheet Figs. 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 3,represent in front,top, and side elevation, respectively, the means ofadjustment at the cashiers desk. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, represents a'detail ofthe same. FigJS, Sheet 4, represents the system in plan. Figs. 9 and 10,Sheet 5, represent in side elevation anodifications of the arrangementof devices at the salesmans station. Figs. 11 and 12, Sheet 5, representin top and side elevation (the latter partly in section) a modificationof the central or cashiers adjusting-plate.

A represents the cashiers desk, and H H. II, &c., the various wiresleading to salesmens counters at varying distances there from, B B B &c.

F is a car in transit upon one of the wires, and G G spring-retainingstops or buffers at the ends of the line.

E represents the salesmans shelves, in front of which is arranged thegravityswitch, secured thereto in the ordinary manner by brackets 00 11sustaining the vertical guide-rod T and the fixed pulley IV.

' In prior devices embodying these generic features it has been usual toconnect the end and side bails for the operating-cord Q. In-

2 wanna stead of hanging cords terminating in handpulls, generallyemployed for raising and lowering the slide, I may substitute theendless cord Q and winding-drum It. By this construction the salesman isprevented from operating the slide with such rapidity as to cause it tostrike violently against the bracket X and sleeve W, which has been theoccasion of much annoyance and expense with the hand-pull hangers. Theoperation of turning the winch of the winding-drum necessarily involvesa gradual ascent and descent of the slide,whieh reaches its upper andlower limits without perceptible shock or jar.

At the cashiers desk, and preferably suspended from the ceiling by asustaining shoulderpost, D, are situated the two pairs of guide-rails MN. These may have, as represented in the drawings, an upward curvature,or, in some instances, may be straight and parallel throughout. The postD passes between the pairs of rails, and has an upper fixed collar, 1),and screw-nuts c c and d, clamp ing the rails firmly upon the post. Therails are thus held apart a distance equal to the diameter of the post,leaving a longitudinal passage between each pair, the two beingseparated also by an intervening space equal to the distance between thescrew-nuts. In the longitudinal grooves are situated the sliding boltsI, extending through the grooves and passing through the angledguide-plates J to which theyv are secured by bolt-heads andretaining-nuts. One or more lock-nuts f f serve to secure the bolts inany position along the length of the rails. Upon the bolts are situatedthe adjustable sleeves L, provided with binding-screws S, and forwardright-angled extension-arms K, carrying the transverse bolts This boltis provided with a retaining-nut, m, lock-nut a, and head 0 adapted forthe reception of a turning key or wrench. The track-wires H II, &c., areattached to theseboltsinanysuitablemannerforinstance, as represented inFig. 6by passing the end of the wire through a perforation in the boltand forming such end into a loop or knot. In some cases, however, Icontemplate dispensing entirely with the sleeve-pieces L, attaching thewires directly to the vertical bolt I, and at any desired height uponsaid bolts. This arrangement I may adopt either when the rails areupwardly curved or when they are arranged, as they may be, in ahorizontal, vertical, or diagonal position.

From the description of parts the inode of operation of my device isapparent. V7 hen it is desired to change the grade of any of the tracks,the sliding sleeve L may be moved up along the bolt I. This will sufficefor small changes in the inclination of the tracks. If

the sleeves are not used, the wires may be secured directly to the boltsand at the desired height. Greater changes in the inclination of thewires are obtained by loosening the locknuts of the bolts and moving thelatter along the guides to a higher or lower horizontal plane, as thecase may be.. The slack of the wires, occasioned by sagging, may betaken up by loosening the loek-nut a and revolving the transverse bolt1? by a wrench or key engaging with the bolt-head r, or otherwise.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have illustrated modifications of my gravity-switch.In both these cases the pulleys W" are situated upon the summit of theupright standards T, thus giving a greater play to the carriage Z,running on wheels Z Z. In Fig. 9 the rope is operated by the hand-pullsT T", and in Fig. 10 by the winding-drum R. In place of the carriage,Fig. 9, may be substituted the sleeve-piece U of Fig. 2, which may be inlike manner operated by hand-pulls T T.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a horizontal center plate,which maybe used atthe cashiers desk in place of that shown on Sheets 1 and 2. The wires HII II, &c., lead to the various saleinens counters, and are attached toupright bolts I, playing in grooves in the plate, and secured inposition by the heads M", &c., and lower nuts, 2 z, Locking-nuts f fserve to secure the bolts at any desired point. The wires may also beattached at any point up or down along the height of the bolts, as shownin Fig. 12. The center plate is preferably made oftwo pairs ofrailsjoincd or hooped at their ends, and united by transverse crosstiestt', dc. It may consist, however, of merely a lower plate grooved andprovided with upright headed bolts projecting above the plate,

said bolts being secured in the groove and at their lower ends bylocking and retaining nuts. The heads on the belts in either case areshaped for engagement with a turning key or wrench for tightening thewires.

It is evident that some form of sliding piece other than the carriage orsleeve may be employed in connection with my upright standard, rope, andwinding-drum or handles. In my seventeenth claim, therefore, I use theword sliding-piece generically to cover all. such forms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1s I r 1. A storeservice system consisting of aseries of wires radiatingfrom a central or cashiers station to various salesmens counters orsub-stations, and provided with means at the central station for varyingthe grade of any or all of said wires, substantially as described.

2. A store-service system consisting of a series of wires radiating froma central or cashiers station to various salesmens counters orsub-stations, andprovided with means for moving any or all the ends ofthe wires at the central station to different elevations or horizontal.planes, substantially as described. v

3. A storeservice system consisting of aseries of wires radiating from acentral or cashiers station to various salesmens counters orsub-stations, and provided with means for ICO moving the ends of thewires to the right or left of the vertical planes in which they areoriginally placed, substantially as described.

4. A store-service system consisting of aserics of wires radiating froma central station to various sal esmen s counters or sub-stations, andprovided with means for tightening or stretching each of the said wires.1

5. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided withhorizontally movable attachments for the inner ends of the wires,substantially as described.

6'. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided withvertically-adjustable attachments for the inner ends of the wires,substantially as described.

7. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided withhorizontally and Vertically adjustable attachment forthe inner ends ofthe wires, substantially as described.

8. In a store-service system, a central fixture composed of guide-railsand connectingbolts, substantially as described.

9. In a store-service system, the combination of guide-rails M N, havinga central opening, with the adjustable bolts I I, provided with meansfor locking them in any position upon said rails, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a store-service system, the guiderails M N, having an upwardcurvature, in combination with the adjustable locking-bolts I I,substantially as described.

11. I11 a store-service system, the adjustable bolts I I, in combinationwith sleeve-clamps L, having means for attaching thereto the wire H,substantially as described.

12. In a store-service system, the bolts I I, in combination withsleeve-clamps L, having extended arms K K and transverse bar P, providedwith key-head r, and lock-nut a, substantially as described.

13. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted tobe raised and lowered at the salesmans end with upright standard T,sleeve-piece U, having lugs or bails V V, rope Q, and drum R,substantially as described.

14.. In astore-service system, thecombination of a wireway, adapted tobe raised and lowered at the salesmans end, with upright standard T,sleeve U, having lugs or bails V V, rope Q, and handles T T,substantially as described.

15. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted tobe raised and lowered at the salesmans end,'with upright standard T,carriage Z, with wheels Z Z, rope Q, and drum R, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted tobe raised and lowered at the salesmans end, with upright standard T,carriage Z, with wheels ZZ, rope Q, and handles T T, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a stove-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted tobe raised and lowered at the salesmans counter, with an up rightstandard, apiece sliding thereon, to which the end of the way isattached, a rope, and winding-drum, substantially as described.

18. In a store-service system, a center plate at the cashiers desk,flator horizontal throughout, and provided with a series of tighteningbolts,substantially as described.

19. In a store-service system, a center plate at the eashiers desk,fiator horizontal throughout, and provided with a series of tighteningboltsadjustable in the grooves of said plate, substantially as described.

I11 testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

MILTON CLARK.

Witnesses:

A. B. SUAL, A. G. DAVIS.

